The Bubble Inside Our Bubble

No matter how inclusive or open we think we are, we  constantly withdraw ourselves into self-assembled groups. In other words, we are all consciously or unconsciously isolating ourselves in groups, affinities or “bubbles” with people of similar traits, backgrounds or interests. Despite the fact that I think this phenomenon commonly exists in the world today, I think it’s especially apparent at Exeter. Now has come a time when we all need to pause and acknowledge its existence.Forming our own affinity groups is not bad. Nor is it good. It simply happens. However, it raises an issue of the paradoxical voice of the tacit motto at Exeter: to be all-inclusive. Should we feel a pang of guilt when we group ourselves according to race, language or culture? Of course, it is natural to surround ourselves with people with whom we are more familiar, but it stands against why we came to Exeter: to integrate with people of different backgrounds, beliefs and knowledge. After all, our ultimate goal,  as ambitious Exonians, is to succeed in the inevitably diverse real world. To achieve this, we need to eventually escape the Exeter bubble, especially the bubbles that we have created ourselves.I know for one that I have secluded myself by reposing in a group consisting of people who are of the same race and from the same country. Needless to say, having familiarized myself with people who share the same culture as me, I have felt security and a sense of belonging. But there have been times when I noticed how little diversity or depth our conversations carried. For example, when difficult topics concerning racism after Ferguson shootings had emerged, debates sparked across our campus. When the topic reached me and my friends, we ended up coming to the conclusion that we were not to discuss it. Controversial and contemporary topics, especially ones like racism is generally avoided in the Korean culture. The country’s institution espouses orthodoxy, while the modern generation naturally faces difficult situations of perceived radicalism, and this often results to glossing over areas of controversy.Therefore, at the time, I thought I was dealing (or not dealing) with the issue appropriately. But as someone who was assimilating into the new culture of Exeter where we learn that polemical topics are the most important ones to discuss, I could not help questioning the way I dealt with the big issue. We should not restrict our opinions to those of our culture, or to what our group of friends think, and instead boldly express ourselves as opinionated individuals.Difference of opinion is an indispensable asset to Exeter. The ethos of Exeter is structured so that the nature of us Exonians is to debate. Illustrated by our method of Harkness, we work by debating our opinions, not because we like to dispute, but because from respectfully exchanging our views, we acquire knowledge.It must be realized that bubbles exist even in the world outside of Exeter. But those that succeed will be the ones that transcend this invisible boundary and reach out to connect to every form of person. At Exeter, we are bestowed with the finest educational environment that promotes this. Our daily lives consist of participating in classes, clubs and dorms that flourish in diversity. Therefore, it’s strange that out of all places, forming cloistered groups exists to such an extent in our school where we are supposed to be the ones that pop these bubbles. We should bring down barriers and be adventurous and critical with our opinions. When we take advantage of the inclusive environment Exeter provides and surpass this boundary, we can help promote universal integration.We all know the kinds of “posses” and “groups” we belong in, or that exist in the Exeter society today. We have reached the stratum of intellectuality where we understand the necessity of reaching outside of our posses and our comfort zones. It is still something of a quandary how to find the equilibrium between holding onto people and reaching further. There is no single method to attain the complex balance, but it is never too late to try. So for the time you have left at Exeter, prevent lamentable sequester by taking control of you and your experience here. Don’t seclude yourself in groups of race, country, dorm, sport team or even age. How often do you initiate a conversation with your professors? How often do you try to talk to someone who is not in your dorm or classes? Talk to people you have never talked to before, try sitting down with someone you’ve never met. Popping the bubbles one by one, we can become the heroes of desegregation in and out of Exeter.